D.C. Woman Accused of Killing 4 Daughters Goes on Trial

WASHINGTON – A judge has denied a defense request to delay the trial of a Washington woman accused of killing her four daughters and living with their decomposing bodies for months.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Frederick Weisberg says the trial of Banita Jacks is "long overdue." The bodies were discovered in January 2008 when marshals arrived at Jacks' southeast D.C. home to carry out an eviction.

Jacks' lawyers asked for the delay because of a report on some evidence that came in just last week. They said they wanted more time to study the report and to conduct further testing.

The trial is scheduled to start Monday. Right now the judge is dealing with motions and other preliminary matters. Jacks will go before a judge, not a jury, after requesting a bench trial.